The patient/caregiver was educated on skin care for Alzheimer’s patients as follows:
- Alzheimer’s patients must never be left barefooted, as they often fail to realize their surroundings, which can lead to accidents and injuries. Caregivers must make sure they are having shoes on always. Select shoes for them that are snug, not too tight, and have space to move the toes. Shoes that are too tight can compromise blood supply to the feet & toes and contribute to development of calluses. The discomfort associated can also offer poor incentive for them to have the shoes on and could result in noncompliance. Alzheimer’s patients could often be poorly communicative and consequently could not express their discomfort. Change their socks every day and have them wear clean and dry socks. Use of socks soiled with sweat can lead to increased risk for foot infections. Cotton socks are more breathable and help the feet sweat less. Also, cotton socks help with absorbing the moisture better and maintain skin on the feet healthy.
- Alzheimer’s patients often can have poor appreciation of their surroundings, as a result of which they bump into the furniture and other structures adjacent to their path. This can lead to injuries and skin breakdown. So, do not accumulate too much of furniture, which can make it difficult for the individual to move around freely. Caregivers must exercise caution by fixing edge guards along the sharp corners of walls and furniture, to help reduce risk for injury to their loved one.
- Alzheimer’s patients often fail to realize any injuries suffered during falls and accidents or forget to timely report the injury to the caregiver. Consequently, they fail to seek medical attention, which can result in progression of the injury to bigger infected sores and nonhealing wounds. Caregivers must observe compliance with checking the entire body surface, especially the extremities, for any skin breaks and wounds. Caregiver could take a close watch at the skin, while assisting their loved one during shower time. Caregivers must report to the physician at the earliest notice regarding any risk for skin integrity.
- Compliance with fluid intake requirements is needed for maintaining the skin supple and protecting the skin integrity. Senior citizens in general and Alzheimer’s patients in specific could present with poor appreciation of sense of thirst, resulting in reduced fluid intake. Poor compliance with fluid intake requirements can increase the risk for skin breakdown and pressure ulcer development. Also, other factors, such as, reduced mobility with long periods of rest, reduced sense of hunger & poor intake, and episodes of incontinence with moist skin, could all contribute to compromised skin integrity in senior citizens leading to increased risk for pressure ulcer development. Caregivers must observe compliance with checking the entire body surface periodically and report to the physician at the earliest notice regarding any risk for skin integrity. Caregivers, at least during the time of their availability for the Alzheimer’s patient, and attending them, should encourage the individual for changing their position frequently, once every 20 – 30 minutes. This can help avoiding pressure at any one single point on the skin and contribute to preventing development of pressure ulcers. Caregivers can also leave instructions for the same posted on the walls in the patient’s room, which can help the patient comply with position change schedule in caregiver absence.
